I am home at last. The best thing about leaving the United States of America is coming home to it.
If you notice the time of this posting, you will see that my internal clock has yet to adjust. I'll probably end up dozing at my desk sometime today--I haven't gotten much uninterrupted sleep since I've been home, but I'm sure I'll catch up on that sometime this week.
It's great to be home and I hope you've enjoyed the postings.
Signing off,
Daryl
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
last days
I have a new and exciting post for you . . . not!!! I haven't done anything different, I haven't gone anywhere special, and I haven't seen anything extraordinary!!
This place really doesn't offer me anything more than the states. In fact, it takes. Constantly, it takes. The minimum wage here is $15 per hour--it's why servers don't get tipped here. It's not customary to tip the servers here, but it's righteous--they don't tend to you as well as they do in the states.
I can't wait to come home--I have one roomate that's a nice young kid and another that's a piece of shit. If I don't come home, it's because I've killed him.
Goodbye for now.
This place really doesn't offer me anything more than the states. In fact, it takes. Constantly, it takes. The minimum wage here is $15 per hour--it's why servers don't get tipped here. It's not customary to tip the servers here, but it's righteous--they don't tend to you as well as they do in the states.
I can't wait to come home--I have one roomate that's a nice young kid and another that's a piece of shit. If I don't come home, it's because I've killed him.
Goodbye for now.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
fashions in Brisbane
For those of you who know me well, you know that I'm no slave to fashion. If it weren't for my wife, I may still be wearing clothes from the 1980's and sporting a mullet. That being said, you may wonder why I'm about to poke fun at the Aussies and their style of dress. This trip has transported me back to the '80's where stiletto heels and fishnet stockings were prevalent. Certainly not a sight hard on the eyes (sorry, sweetheart). But, the men are stuck on the fashions of the '80's also. The younger men wear t-shirts with loud colors (think of the Houston Astro's uniforms during the 80's and multiply by ten), bell-bottoms (if you're too young to know, I can't explain it), and shoes/boots that surround the foot and meet at a point several inches in front of the toes. Men in all age groups wear too much aftershave (do they sell Hi Karate here?) and the businessmen wear ridiculously wide ties with color patterns that could make an epileptic have a seizure. Women dress very provocatively here--they are not afraid to show cleavage and most can be seen on the weekends wearing the Daisy Duke jean shorts.
The younger people of both sexes have multiple piercings in the face and multiple visible tattoos. There are some crazy hair styles here--I saw a young man that had his hair cut to resemble the mane of a lion. It's not as if I don't see some of this in the States--it just seems to be more frequent here.
That's all for now. Just a few more days and I'll be homeward bound.
The younger people of both sexes have multiple piercings in the face and multiple visible tattoos. There are some crazy hair styles here--I saw a young man that had his hair cut to resemble the mane of a lion. It's not as if I don't see some of this in the States--it just seems to be more frequent here.
That's all for now. Just a few more days and I'll be homeward bound.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
home stretch
I am seriously in the home stretch now. Six days from now, I will be over the Pacific Ocean, on my way back to the land of milk and honey. If I sound anxious to get home, I am. Not because of Australia in any way, but because of an unfortunate cancellation of a project for which we were scheduled while here. Not anyone's fault--simply something that happens in the business on occasion, but disappointing all the same. I find myself with little to do for the rest of this week--it makes for long days.
I've posted some pictures here--not too many. But I hope you enjoy. The first couple were taken from the apogee of the path of a ferris wheel and the others were taken from a water taxi that travels the Brisbane River.
I'll post again before we leave.
I've posted some pictures here--not too many. But I hope you enjoy. The first couple were taken from the apogee of the path of a ferris wheel and the others were taken from a water taxi that travels the Brisbane River.
I'll post again before we leave.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Happy Monday
Happy Monday to everyone in Pittsburgh--mine's over, at least the work part (remember I'm fourteen hours ahead of you). One down and nine to go.
The countdown now begins in earnest. I'm doing laundry right now, something of which I've done more in the past six weeks than in the rest of my life (it would probably be impolitic to repeat that I miss my wife). I'll attempt to finish my stay here without having to do laundry again (aren't you lucky, sweetheart?).
It's hot and humid here again and I'm sweating like a pig. It might have something to do with that monster walk to and from work. I'm into another notch on my belt--don't worry, I'm still a fat bastard--but I'm sure I'll fatten up again when I get home to the good old US of A.
Something that I've noticed in Brisbane that's quite a bit different than in the US is the amount of surveilance here. On the way home, I saw cameras at almost every street corner, in front of nearly every establishment that caters to the public, and strung at 30 meter intervals along a walking bridge. It might be the reason there is so little crime here (except for the cost of living).
I found out last week that the government here is somewhat intrusive. You must wear a helmet to ride a bicycle, a skateboard, roller blades, or a motorcycle. For motorcycles, the rules are more strict--you must complete a comprehensive exam and field test to get your license and, once you have your license, you can't ride anything with an engine larger than a 650cc for two years.
Maybe we'll go to the beach this weekend. Preliminary forecasts are calling for rain once again, but it will be our last full weekend in Brisbane and it might be worth a try.
That's all for now. I know I'm not coming through with the photographs, but it seems it takes forever to download them. I may wait until I get home so that I can download them at my leisure.
Adios.
The countdown now begins in earnest. I'm doing laundry right now, something of which I've done more in the past six weeks than in the rest of my life (it would probably be impolitic to repeat that I miss my wife). I'll attempt to finish my stay here without having to do laundry again (aren't you lucky, sweetheart?).
It's hot and humid here again and I'm sweating like a pig. It might have something to do with that monster walk to and from work. I'm into another notch on my belt--don't worry, I'm still a fat bastard--but I'm sure I'll fatten up again when I get home to the good old US of A.
Something that I've noticed in Brisbane that's quite a bit different than in the US is the amount of surveilance here. On the way home, I saw cameras at almost every street corner, in front of nearly every establishment that caters to the public, and strung at 30 meter intervals along a walking bridge. It might be the reason there is so little crime here (except for the cost of living).
I found out last week that the government here is somewhat intrusive. You must wear a helmet to ride a bicycle, a skateboard, roller blades, or a motorcycle. For motorcycles, the rules are more strict--you must complete a comprehensive exam and field test to get your license and, once you have your license, you can't ride anything with an engine larger than a 650cc for two years.
Maybe we'll go to the beach this weekend. Preliminary forecasts are calling for rain once again, but it will be our last full weekend in Brisbane and it might be worth a try.
That's all for now. I know I'm not coming through with the photographs, but it seems it takes forever to download them. I may wait until I get home so that I can download them at my leisure.
Adios.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
deep sea fishing
Six of us went deep sea fishing yesterday morning and, though the weather didn't cooperate, it was an interesting trip. I did take several photos, but I don't have my camera with me right now--I will try to add the photos later this evening.
The commute was an hour on the bus and an hour on the train (each way) and it never stopped raining from 5:00AM when we left until 6:00PM when we returned. The boat was covered, but none of us stayed very dry. The act of leaning out to bait a hook would subject one to the pelting onslaught of a South Pacific rainstorm. The trip was a success in that everyone caught something, but it was unsuccessful in that nobody caught anything larger than a couple pounds. The rods we used were equipped with 40 pound test line--overkill to say the least, akin to using an elephant gun to hunt rabbits.
Just one of our six got seasick. Thankfully he never hurled--that might have caused a chain reaction in the rest of us--but he was pasty-faced and nauseous. The boat was only thirty feet long and it was tossed about violently in the choppy waters so it's somewhat surprising that more of us didn't get seasick.
I'll be returning to the States in a fortnight (two weeks) and I look forward to seeing everyone. I'm in the home stretch and I'm becoming more anxious as each day passes.
That's all for now.
The commute was an hour on the bus and an hour on the train (each way) and it never stopped raining from 5:00AM when we left until 6:00PM when we returned. The boat was covered, but none of us stayed very dry. The act of leaning out to bait a hook would subject one to the pelting onslaught of a South Pacific rainstorm. The trip was a success in that everyone caught something, but it was unsuccessful in that nobody caught anything larger than a couple pounds. The rods we used were equipped with 40 pound test line--overkill to say the least, akin to using an elephant gun to hunt rabbits.
Just one of our six got seasick. Thankfully he never hurled--that might have caused a chain reaction in the rest of us--but he was pasty-faced and nauseous. The boat was only thirty feet long and it was tossed about violently in the choppy waters so it's somewhat surprising that more of us didn't get seasick.
I'll be returning to the States in a fortnight (two weeks) and I look forward to seeing everyone. I'm in the home stretch and I'm becoming more anxious as each day passes.
That's all for now.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I was unable to make it to the beach yesterday, so there are no new pictures to post, but eight of us booked a half day charter for this coming Saturday to go deepsea fishing. That should be interesting and I'm looking forward to it.
Just three more weeks until I'm back in the States. Other than my friends and family, these are some of the things I miss:
***A waiter or waitress in a restaurant. Most eating establishments are set up to take your order at a counter where they give you a buzzer to alert you when your meal is ready. Then you go back to the counter and carry your food to your table.
***A vehicle. I know that walking is good for me, but I'm really getting sick of the daily hike and would prefer to get in my truck and go.
***A case of beer for less than $40. This price is for the local beer--the imports exceed $50 per case.
***Softer toilet paper.
***Television that shows more than Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park.
That's all for now--I gotta get to work.
Just three more weeks until I'm back in the States. Other than my friends and family, these are some of the things I miss:
***A waiter or waitress in a restaurant. Most eating establishments are set up to take your order at a counter where they give you a buzzer to alert you when your meal is ready. Then you go back to the counter and carry your food to your table.
***A vehicle. I know that walking is good for me, but I'm really getting sick of the daily hike and would prefer to get in my truck and go.
***A case of beer for less than $40. This price is for the local beer--the imports exceed $50 per case.
***Softer toilet paper.
***Television that shows more than Family Guy, The Simpsons, and South Park.
That's all for now--I gotta get to work.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Update
It seems I haven't posted to this site for a while so here's an update. I spent last week in Mudgee, New South Wales, where we have an ongoing construction project at an existing coal mine. Mudgee is a little town about 150 kilometers northwest of Sydney. I flew from Brisbane to Sydney and then Sydney to Mudgee--the second flight was quite interesting.
The flight occurred in a twin turbo-prop plane that held about 18 passengers and reacted violently to every small gust of wind that came our way. At one time during the flight, I swore I saw a pigeon passing us and though the plane was equipped with a PA system, the pilot need only turn in his seat and announce the descent and request the passengers to buckle up. Still, except for the constant turbulence to which I grew accustomed, it was a pleasant flight which offered some beautiful scenery.
Unforunately, I left my camera in Brisbane so there are no photos of my experience there. It was, however, a quaint little town with a population of less than 4000 people. The jobsite was a 45 minute drive from town along a road that was sometimes paved and sometimes not paved. This was somewhat surprising since nearly everyone in the small town of Mudgee worked at the jobsite and the road, which is the only road that takes you to the jobsite, is very heavily traveled. Twice each month a vehicle flips over on that road, usually from driving too fast on its often uneven surface and bouncing their vehicle beyond the soft berm.
Australians seem to take it all in stride--their oft-quoted "no worries, mate" are words by which they live and only failure will come to anyone who tries to instill a sense of urgency in them. Overall, they are a friendly nation who seem to feel a kindred spirit with Americans--it may have something to do with the fact we speak the same language (almost) and our common past animosity towards the United Kingdom. For some unknown reason, they seem to love the Eagles and that's fine, but I swear if I hear Hotel California one more time I think I'll scream.
Anyway, I returned to Brisbane on Friday evening and was happy to leave Mudgee, not because I didn't like the town, but because I was at the mercy of those who had a vehicle. In Brisbane, everything is within walking distance. In fact, I'm walking so much that my pants are starting to fall from the lack of a fat beer gut holding them in place.
I wish I had more to share, but it's time to go eat dinner so I'll sign off for now. It's our intention to go to the beach on Sunday if the weather cooperates. The outlook right now is bleak, but weathermen here are just as apt to be wrong as they are in Pittsburgh. If I do go to the beach, I'll be sure to take my camera--the Gold Coast is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
And the next time I post, I promise to post pictures.
G'day.
The flight occurred in a twin turbo-prop plane that held about 18 passengers and reacted violently to every small gust of wind that came our way. At one time during the flight, I swore I saw a pigeon passing us and though the plane was equipped with a PA system, the pilot need only turn in his seat and announce the descent and request the passengers to buckle up. Still, except for the constant turbulence to which I grew accustomed, it was a pleasant flight which offered some beautiful scenery.
Unforunately, I left my camera in Brisbane so there are no photos of my experience there. It was, however, a quaint little town with a population of less than 4000 people. The jobsite was a 45 minute drive from town along a road that was sometimes paved and sometimes not paved. This was somewhat surprising since nearly everyone in the small town of Mudgee worked at the jobsite and the road, which is the only road that takes you to the jobsite, is very heavily traveled. Twice each month a vehicle flips over on that road, usually from driving too fast on its often uneven surface and bouncing their vehicle beyond the soft berm.
Australians seem to take it all in stride--their oft-quoted "no worries, mate" are words by which they live and only failure will come to anyone who tries to instill a sense of urgency in them. Overall, they are a friendly nation who seem to feel a kindred spirit with Americans--it may have something to do with the fact we speak the same language (almost) and our common past animosity towards the United Kingdom. For some unknown reason, they seem to love the Eagles and that's fine, but I swear if I hear Hotel California one more time I think I'll scream.
Anyway, I returned to Brisbane on Friday evening and was happy to leave Mudgee, not because I didn't like the town, but because I was at the mercy of those who had a vehicle. In Brisbane, everything is within walking distance. In fact, I'm walking so much that my pants are starting to fall from the lack of a fat beer gut holding them in place.
I wish I had more to share, but it's time to go eat dinner so I'll sign off for now. It's our intention to go to the beach on Sunday if the weather cooperates. The outlook right now is bleak, but weathermen here are just as apt to be wrong as they are in Pittsburgh. If I do go to the beach, I'll be sure to take my camera--the Gold Coast is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
And the next time I post, I promise to post pictures.
G'day.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
weekend
I've been in Mudgee for about a day and a half and have yet to visit the jobsite. Mudgee is a small town about 150 kilometers west northwest of Sydney. I left Brisbane on a flight to Sydney at 5:00 AM yesterday, but the more interesting flight was the one from Sydney to Mudgee, New South Wales. I walked across the tarmac to board the plane and to give you an idea of how small the plane was, the mobile stair to the seats was only four or five risers. There were a total of 18 seats on the plane and its motive power was twin propeller engines. I think it only needed about 50 feet of runway to get airborne, but thankfully, the skies were clear and it turned into a very enjoyable flight.
The reason I haven't visited the jobsite yet is that the saftey constrictions here are more stringent than anywhere in the USA, and I'm required to have training for a "14 day induction" prior to being allowed on site and, even then, I won't be allowed to walk the site without a chaperone. There isn't much more to tell.
There is much more to do in Brisbane than here. I'm told that Brisbane is the third most populated city in Australia and there are many things to do there within walking distance. There is nothing within walking distance in Mudgee and although I haven't been to the jobsite, I'm told it's about an hour drive from Mudgee (in which direct I don't know).
I'm signing off for now and will post again if anything interesting happens. I'm scheduled on a return flight to Brisbane on Friday, but the construction manager here is all ready making phone calls to keep me on for an additional week.
So long for now.
The reason I haven't visited the jobsite yet is that the saftey constrictions here are more stringent than anywhere in the USA, and I'm required to have training for a "14 day induction" prior to being allowed on site and, even then, I won't be allowed to walk the site without a chaperone. There isn't much more to tell.
There is much more to do in Brisbane than here. I'm told that Brisbane is the third most populated city in Australia and there are many things to do there within walking distance. There is nothing within walking distance in Mudgee and although I haven't been to the jobsite, I'm told it's about an hour drive from Mudgee (in which direct I don't know).
I'm signing off for now and will post again if anything interesting happens. I'm scheduled on a return flight to Brisbane on Friday, but the construction manager here is all ready making phone calls to keep me on for an additional week.
So long for now.
Friday, February 25, 2011
this week
I will be spending the following week at a field site in Mudgee, New South Wales. It's about 1000 kilometers from Brisbane and it should be interesting to see Australian construction techniques. I will post more when I have an opportunity.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Brand New Day
I was brought here for political reasons. Company political reasons. My boss in the states is firing five (5) emails a day to my boss in Australia to bring all six of us back early to the states because he can't handle the workload without us. Though I hate being in the middle, I can't say I'm not enjoying myself. I'm working plenty of hours--between 50 and 60 hours per week--and I have little time to do anything. But the money appeals to me as well as the weather. The weather is conducive to motorcycles, but it's $200 per day to rent a bike and, frankly, I'm uncertain about riding on the left hand side of the road.
Gotta go for now. I hope to give more after the weekend.
Del
Gotta go for now. I hope to give more after the weekend.
Del
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
yesterday
I promise to bring several photos to this blog--the ones I don't bring, I'll distribute with CD's for anyone who asks.
When I ride the elevator, it's a 50-50 chance who I'm riding with doesn't speak English.
It's a multi-cultural place . . . there are chinese, japanese, korean, indian, pakastani, saudis, celtic, brits, new zealanders, south africans, mongolians, and Americans. Oh, yeah, there's some Australians, too. But there is a shift going on here. Something that is detrimental to this city. It's being overrun by everyone except for the Aussies.
I must sign off now . . . 60 hour weeks mean an early wake-up call.
Del
When I ride the elevator, it's a 50-50 chance who I'm riding with doesn't speak English.
It's a multi-cultural place . . . there are chinese, japanese, korean, indian, pakastani, saudis, celtic, brits, new zealanders, south africans, mongolians, and Americans. Oh, yeah, there's some Australians, too. But there is a shift going on here. Something that is detrimental to this city. It's being overrun by everyone except for the Aussies.
I must sign off now . . . 60 hour weeks mean an early wake-up call.
Del
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
casino
I went to the casino tonight. It's a beautiful building and I'll be posting pictures of it, but just not right now Maybe sometime tomorrow.
Remember to root for Pitt tonight against Villanova. Enjoy the game--it's the only one I'll get a chance to see while I'm here.
Remember to root for Pitt tonight against Villanova. Enjoy the game--it's the only one I'll get a chance to see while I'm here.
Friday, February 11, 2011
It's amazing to me to be in another country. It really isn't too much different--they like steak, they're passionate about their sports, and they speak the same languge (sort of).
Did you know that most of the Aussies think that everyone in America is packing heat? I was asked if I've ever killed anyone--that's a question I was never asked before. I've been told that when there is a shooting in Brisbane, it makes front page news for two weeks. The crime rate here is much lower than in Pittsburgh.
I'll try to post more photographs tomorrow, but I don't want to cart the camera so I'm not sure if I will. In the meantime, I wish you all a good night (the next time it's night for you) and sweet dreams (the next time you're sleeping).
Del
Did you know that most of the Aussies think that everyone in America is packing heat? I was asked if I've ever killed anyone--that's a question I was never asked before. I've been told that when there is a shooting in Brisbane, it makes front page news for two weeks. The crime rate here is much lower than in Pittsburgh.
I'll try to post more photographs tomorrow, but I don't want to cart the camera so I'm not sure if I will. In the meantime, I wish you all a good night (the next time it's night for you) and sweet dreams (the next time you're sleeping).
Del
Thursday, February 10, 2011
My apartment is in South Brisbane at the corner of Albert Street and Charlotte Street, just a few blocks from The Exchange. This is a pub we will watch the Pitt/Villanova game on Sunday at noon. It airs in Pittsburgh at 9:00PM on Saturday on ESPN. I've talked the other guys into coming along and they've agreed, so we'll be six strong at tip-off. Representing . . . go Pitt!!
The office is on Montague Street across the river. See if you can map it on Google. We walk the distance and when we cross the river, it's over a pedestrian bridge. I smoke two or three cigarettes on the way--you know, for medicinal purposes. Can anyone tell me how far it is between my apartment and my office--feel free to use miles or kilometers, I'll convert (the last time I said that was to a Rabbi).
This place is absolutely beautiful and I have yet to encounter an unfriendly person. The downside is that you never know when the rain is coming and I have a suspicion that I won't have time explore the beauty.
It's early yet and maybe I'm being a curmudgen. Time has yet to tell.
The office is on Montague Street across the river. See if you can map it on Google. We walk the distance and when we cross the river, it's over a pedestrian bridge. I smoke two or three cigarettes on the way--you know, for medicinal purposes. Can anyone tell me how far it is between my apartment and my office--feel free to use miles or kilometers, I'll convert (the last time I said that was to a Rabbi).
This place is absolutely beautiful and I have yet to encounter an unfriendly person. The downside is that you never know when the rain is coming and I have a suspicion that I won't have time explore the beauty.
It's early yet and maybe I'm being a curmudgen. Time has yet to tell.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
There is not much new to report other than we started work yesterday. One of the older draftsman in the office collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital--we'll find out today if he's okay, but it imbued us with a sense of being a "bad luck charm" to these overly friendly people. The incident happened within two (2) hours of our arrival in the workplace and it created minor chaos for the next two (2) hours.
As anticipated, the Aussies' way of engineering varies from what we do in the states and it will take us some time to assimilate, but the task at hand doesn't appear to be overly daunting. When I first found out about our pending trip to Australia, one of the questions I posed was why it was necessary that we go to Australia to work on drawings that could be electronically sent from Brisbane to Pittsburgh in a matter of seconds. No one ever gave me a satisfactory reason, but after having a chance to witness how they work, suffice it to say that the engineering group here has no real sense of urgency (it appears to be more of a cultural thing than anything else).
We ate dinner at nice pub last night called Gilhooley's. It specialized in steaks and I ordered a New York Sirloin. The cost of the steak and the one (1) pint of local brew I had was in excess of $35 (Australian dollars are trading about evenly with the US dollar). This seemed overpriced to me until I considered that our habit of tipping does not exist here. That is mostly because the minimum wage here is more than $15 per hour--it provides a livable wage for all workers, but creates much higher prices for consumers. The steak, however, was very tasty and I'll have to get used to the fact the the menu describes the weight of a piece of meat in grams and not ounces (the steak I ordered was 300 grams and I ordered it not knowing how big it would be).
That's enough for now--I have to get ready for work. I'll post again in a few days or when I something interesting to add.
As anticipated, the Aussies' way of engineering varies from what we do in the states and it will take us some time to assimilate, but the task at hand doesn't appear to be overly daunting. When I first found out about our pending trip to Australia, one of the questions I posed was why it was necessary that we go to Australia to work on drawings that could be electronically sent from Brisbane to Pittsburgh in a matter of seconds. No one ever gave me a satisfactory reason, but after having a chance to witness how they work, suffice it to say that the engineering group here has no real sense of urgency (it appears to be more of a cultural thing than anything else).
We ate dinner at nice pub last night called Gilhooley's. It specialized in steaks and I ordered a New York Sirloin. The cost of the steak and the one (1) pint of local brew I had was in excess of $35 (Australian dollars are trading about evenly with the US dollar). This seemed overpriced to me until I considered that our habit of tipping does not exist here. That is mostly because the minimum wage here is more than $15 per hour--it provides a livable wage for all workers, but creates much higher prices for consumers. The steak, however, was very tasty and I'll have to get used to the fact the the menu describes the weight of a piece of meat in grams and not ounces (the steak I ordered was 300 grams and I ordered it not knowing how big it would be).
That's enough for now--I have to get ready for work. I'll post again in a few days or when I something interesting to add.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Arrived in Brisbane
We arrived in Brisbane at about 8:00AM Sunday morning (5:00PM Saturday in Pittsburgh). We tried to stay awake until about 9:00PM--I made it until about 7:00 which wasn't bad since I hadn't slept for 44 hours.
We got an opportunity to walk around the city for a while--the climate is hot and humid and the city is beautiful other than the occasional scars of the recent flooding here.
The Superbowl will air in about 6 or 7 hours. We intend to watch it at a local establishment that has advertised opening early for the specific purpose of showing the Superbowl. There is a mild interest here in the game, but I haven't seen anyone wearing Steeler gear yet.
I'll write more late and try to post some pictures.
We got an opportunity to walk around the city for a while--the climate is hot and humid and the city is beautiful other than the occasional scars of the recent flooding here.
The Superbowl will air in about 6 or 7 hours. We intend to watch it at a local establishment that has advertised opening early for the specific purpose of showing the Superbowl. There is a mild interest here in the game, but I haven't seen anyone wearing Steeler gear yet.
I'll write more late and try to post some pictures.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Pre-Travel Update
Because of the unfortunate flooding in the Brisbane area, our trip has been postponed until Friday, February 4, 2011. Yes, that's right . . . I will be in Brisbane when the Superbowl airs. Because of the time difference, it airs live in Brisbane at 10:00AM on Monday, February 7, 2011. This is our scheduled first day of work in the Australian Engineering office, but I think I'll call in sick that day.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Pre-travel to Brisbane, Australia
Friends, Romans, Countrymen . . .
It's January 1, 2011, and I will be leaving for Brisbane Australia on January 14, 2011. I thought this might be an easy way for the people I know to keep in touch with me during my two month stay in Brisbane. I'm not sure yet what to expect, but I look forward to this trip with eager anticipation despite the fact that my lovely wife, Marianne, will not be joining me.
This is the information I have so far . . .
There are six (6) of us engineering personnel going to Brisbane for two months. We will be housed in an apartment building not far from the office in which we will work. Overtime is expected from us, so I'm not sure how much sightseeing for which I'll have time, but I understand that our apartment is within walking distance of our office which is within walking distance of the beach. I guess I'll find out when I get there.
I've checked into renting a motorcycle while I'm there and several varieties are available, albeit at exhorbitant prices. Still, I will probably have time to ride the coast for some distance while I'm there and I'll be sure to take many photographs which I will share on this blog page if I can figure out how to post them.
I will post again when I have more information.
Del
It's January 1, 2011, and I will be leaving for Brisbane Australia on January 14, 2011. I thought this might be an easy way for the people I know to keep in touch with me during my two month stay in Brisbane. I'm not sure yet what to expect, but I look forward to this trip with eager anticipation despite the fact that my lovely wife, Marianne, will not be joining me.
This is the information I have so far . . .
There are six (6) of us engineering personnel going to Brisbane for two months. We will be housed in an apartment building not far from the office in which we will work. Overtime is expected from us, so I'm not sure how much sightseeing for which I'll have time, but I understand that our apartment is within walking distance of our office which is within walking distance of the beach. I guess I'll find out when I get there.
I've checked into renting a motorcycle while I'm there and several varieties are available, albeit at exhorbitant prices. Still, I will probably have time to ride the coast for some distance while I'm there and I'll be sure to take many photographs which I will share on this blog page if I can figure out how to post them.
I will post again when I have more information.
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